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[quote=Anonymous]OP - I can get overwhelmed by small sit down dinner parties but somehow the hosting part of Thanksgiving is the easiest thing that we do. We host over 35 each year.

1. Be organized. I never am but the size of the event makes me plan in advance for one time out of the year. Lists are your friends. 
2. Work ahead, preparation is 99.9% of the work. Have the house cleaned a few days in advance. Plan out the and finish the shopping days in advance. 
3. Try not to cook anything on Thanksgiving. I know that this sounds weird but with a large group it is so much easier to cook almost everything in advance. I have the kitchen completely cleaned and the only thing cooking is the turkey in an electric roaster. 
4. I set the oven at 350 degrees on Thanksgiving and tell people in advance. It is only used for heating up already cooked food. Add in the microwave for reheating some things. I didn't think this would work but you can actually heat up mashed potatoes in boiling water.

5. Best hacks:

- One year we ran out of oven space on the reheating. We put the masked potatoes in zip lock gallon bags and then place the bags in a big pot of boiling water. Add some extra butter and a little cream once they are done reheating. This tasted so much better.

- Turkey -cook a turkey breast the day before and slice up for extra meat. Put the slices meat and a cup or two of reserved juices in a Tupperware container. Reheat it in reserved turkey juices.

- Serve buffet style. Use the disposable aluminum pans that you get in the grocery store for several dishes.

- Stick to the basics. Try not to overdo it on making more than one variation or creative dishes.

-Everything does not need to be from scratch. People tend to think its either cranberry sauce from a can or homemade from berries you fought off a bear to collect. Costco has very good cranberry sauce in the refrigerator section. You can buy bagged dried stuffing (Boudin has a good version) and make it with good quality chicken broth add your own sautéed onions, celery, fresh parsley, etc.

6. If people want to bring things assign things that are easier for travel. Pies, appetizers like cheeses and  crackers,, extra desserts. You should have the whipped cream and any ice cream on hand.

7. Don't rely on someone else to bring drinks. If they are late people will get thirsty. [/quote]

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